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Turkey's President really doesn't like Twitter!

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan isn’t a fan of a free and open internet, and in September during a meeting with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI) he unashamedly told the delegation “I am increasingly against the internet every day.” He particularly doesn't like social media sites such as Twitter and YouTube which were banned in March when they were used to air accusations of government corruption. You see, in repressive countries like Turkey, Iran and Russia, those who dare to stand up for their rights and oppose their government's political beliefs, are shut down or, even worse, imprisoned or tortured.

Since February, the Telecommunications Directorate (TİB) have been able to block any website which contained “discriminatory or insulting” content, and “attacks on privacy,” but in September an amendment to the law gave TİB more power to block websites within four hours, and without a court order. This was allegedly to maintain “national security” “the maintenance of public order” and for “preventing a crime from being committed”. The amendment also stipulated that ISPs were required to store user’s web activity data for two years which was to be made available to government authorities upon request.

Fortunately on October 2nd, Turkey’s top court, which has previously challenged several government-driven laws, overturned this ruling, saying it violated the Constitution. This now means that a court order WILL need to be presented before any website is blocked, or content removed. Also, TİB will no longer be able to track and monitor the websites users visit. So, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but don’t hold your breath…

President Erdogan’s hatred of Twitter continues to grow!

You weren’t holding your breath were you? Good. We know that for Twitter to be able to operate in a number of countries, they must adhere to that country’s laws. But what happens if you mock President Erdogan - who let’s face it, deserves it!

Well, Twitter will send you a warning and will also list how you have violated the Turkish Constitution which could mean that your account is removed. You can’t go around making sarcastic comments, and criticize the Turkish government! Heaven forbid!

But this has happened to Celil Sagir, the managing editor of the newspaper Today’s Zaman, who learned that the complaint made against him was filed on behalf of, surprise surprise, President Erdogan, his son and daughter and another filed by some other member of his entourage, citing his tweets to “incite hatred and animosity” against the president. The twist here, according to an article by Foreign Policy, is that Erdogan and his cronies have also ordered Twitter to block access to all accounts linked to his handle (@csagir) but also any future accounts he may open. There’s always a first, and unfortunately for Sagir, a Turkish court agreed, ruling that Sagir’s Twitter activity should be shut down.

Sagir described this move as “yet another form of censorship and a blow to freedom of expression. If the court decision sets a precedent, it will be tantamount to the closure of every account that speaks out against the government.”

Take back your right to a free and open internet!

But that’s exactly President Erdogan’s plan, he wants to obliterate freedom of expression and an open internet, and especially see the back of Twitter which he has referred to as a “menace.” Which is why we at HMA! launched our campaign, The Pussycat Riot to stand up against such tyrannical leaders to fight cyber censorship. The Pussy Cat Riot took a swipe against some of the internets best known internet dictators, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kim Jong-un, and Vladimir Putin to fight cyber censorship.

Access any website with HMA! Pro VPN

We are seeing more and more governments including Iran, Russia and China, who see an open internet as “immoral” and “harmful”. However, because internet users are more aware than ever that governments are determined to control, and deny their right to an open internet, they use a VPN (virtual private network) to circumvent these stupid blocks so they can access popular websites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

HMA! Pro VPN has the largest amount of servers, with more IP addresses in more countries around the world than any other provider - yes, we are the best! Once you have connected to any one of our Pro VPN servers using, for example, your iPhone or Android, you will be given one of our IP addresses which will hide your real location. All of your online activity is hidden, nobody can snoop on your online activities,or see who you communicate with. All your traffic is encrypted and you will enjoy free and uncensored access to any website you wish while you are virtually residing in a different country.

We can’t allow any government to act as it wants, it violates the right to privacy and freedom of expression. HMA! Pro VPN helps you to reclaim back your right to a free and open internet.